Ilya Bryzgalov has been cleared to play and should return to the lineup tonight against his first NHL team, the Anaheim Ducks. The Oilers are hoping he injects some life, enthusiasm and even some humour into a downtrodden dressing room.

The Oilers were dominated in Vancouver, and despite a solid 40 minutes against the Bruins on Thursday, the Oilers are 0-2 in their six-game stretch against elite teams. They will need to put forth a much better effort tonight, if they want to avoid being blown out by the red-hot Ducks.

The Ducks have won four straight, and are 7-1-2 in their last ten games and they've only allowed 22 goals in their past ten games. The Ducks finished 2nd in the west last season, and some suggested that their underlying statistics suggested that was a lucky 48-game stretch.

If you combine last year's 48 games with their first 34 this year you see an outstanding 82-game stretch.

The Ducks are 52-19-11 good for 115 points and they've outscored the opposition 248-205. The Ducks are a very good team and despite not having a true dominant #1 D-man, their blueline has been very steady even with Francois Beauchemin missing the last ten games.

GP

G

A

P

+/-

PIM

TOI/G

Cam Fowler

34

3

16

19

6

8

24:03:00

Francois Beauchemin

24

0

6

6

15

19

21:54

Ben Lovejoy

32

1

4

5

9

10

20:03

Hampus Lindholm

32

2

8

10

14

12

19:17

Bryan Allen

31

0

6

6

12

34

18:51

Luca Sbisa

9

0

1

1

-5

25

18:00

Sami Vatanen

26

3

4

7

0

12

17:54

Mark Fistric

13

1

1

2

-1

14

15:47

Nolan Yonkman

2

0

1

1

-1

0

14:53

Alex Grant

2

2

0

2

3

2

12:10

Fowler is playing in every situation. He plays 3:15/game on the PP and 2:47/game on the PK. Since Beauchemin went down, he's started playing even more and he's only 22 years old.

Hampus Lindholm played 44 games in the AHL last year as an 18-year old, and at 19 he has stepped into the NHL and performed very well. Ben Lovejoy was acquired for a 5th round pick last February, and he's turned out to be a steal for the Ducks.

They play a very solid game in their D-zone, and when they get the puck Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry take over. Getzlaf is 4th in NHL scoring with 16-22-38, while Perry is 6th with 21-15-36. Both of them are locks to make the Olympic team again, and their line, with Dustin Penner, is carrying the Ducks offensively.

Whoever matches up against that trio tonight is in for a tough game.

The Oilers are 1-5-1 over the past two seasons vs. the Ducks, and they've been outscored 21-8 in those seven games. They've struggled handling the Ducks' size, especially Getzlaf and Perry, and the Oilers will be hard pressed to avoid their 7th loss in 8 games vs. Anaheim.

LINEUP...UPDATE

Ales Hemsky is out with a rib injury, from the Ryan Kesler hit in Vancouver.

Ryan Smyth will draw in and Eakins will have to change his lines. Gagner will need to earn his way back into the top-nine I suspect, and I won't be surprised to see Smyth back with Gordon and Perron. The Oilers need Hall, RNH and Eberle to match the intensity and determination of Perron. If they do that, this team will have a much better chance of winning more games.

Eakins could switch his pairs and maybe try to match Petry and Ference vs. Getzlaf's line, otherwise Larsen or J.Schultz could be in for some long shifts in the D zone.

Bryzgalov

I'm assuming he starts. The Ducks are one of his former teams, and the Oilers will need a strong performance in goal to stay in this game.

QUICK HITS....

Jason LaBarbera must feel like he won the lottery. He struggled in Edmonton, was demoted to the AHL, got recalled due to an injury and then he was dealt to the first place Chicago Blackhawks. When Corey Crawford returns from his injury, I suspect the Hawks will send Raanta back to the AHL and LaBarbera will stay as the back up. The Hawks don't need to rush young players, and they will want Raanta to play more games in the AHL I suspect.

It was a smart trade by MacTavish. They free up a roster spot, plus it allows them to keep Laurent Brossoit in OKC and share time between the pipes with Richard Bachman. LaBarbera was the wrong choice in the summer, and the Oilers will need to do a better job next year when they go searching for a back up. They can't sign the wrong guy again.

The Ducks special teams aren't very good. Their PP is 19th and the PK is 21st, but the Ducks dominate teams at ES. They've outscored their opponents 78-55 at 5-on-5. They are 2nd in ES goals in the league.

The Oilers are almost the exact opposite to the Ducks at ES. The Oilers have given up the most goals 5-on-5, 78, and they've only scored 53. If the Oilers are going to win tonight, they likely will need at least two goals from their powerplay.

WHAT DO WE SEE....

GAME DAY PREDICTION: Oilers struggles against the top teams continue with a 3-1 loss.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: Dustin Penner scores and the Penner supporters say, "I told you the Oilers should have re-signed him."...The fact he is playing with two Olympians won't be mentioned. Penner is a very smart player defensively, and the Oilers could desperately use someone with his size, skill and smarts, but there is no way he'd have the same success in Edmonton as he is having in Anaheim. Plus, I doubt he would want to return to Edmonton.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION:Nick Schultz scores his first goal of the season. Schultz loves playing the Ducks. He has six goals in 43 career games vs. Anaheim, but he only has 21 goals in 800 games against the rest of the league. Schultz scores on a seeing shot from the point.

One of Canada's most versatile sports personalities. Jason hosts The Jason Gregor Show, weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., on TSN 1260, and he writes a column every Monday in the Edmonton Journal. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JasonGregor

A couple of possibilities; 1)the young oil are inconsistent and tonight they are on 2)the Ducks are not really as good as their record 3)the Ducks thought that this game was a free spot on the bingo card. I say 1-20%, 2-20%, 3-100%.

Wow this game got chippy fast. Glad to see a little push back from The Oilers.

Anyone know kassians address. I think he deserves some Christmas cards. His lack of class last game just may have been the mouse that finally sank the ship. They look like a team. Let's see them kill this one off for Potter.

I was a big fan of Smyth for years, but he is no longer a NHL player. For that matter neither are 1/2 the defence playing for this team. Larson, Belov, Putrid. I would gladly take a one-dimensional d-man like Peckham or Fistric than a zero dimensional player. They are so worried about a number one defenceman that the ignore the 3 through 6 defence they have that suck.

Messier was second behind the third best player in hockey history (Orr and Lemieux being one and two) so he got the great benefit of second line minutes to pad his numbers but he was a dominant player on every team he played for.

Anderson played behind kurri - big difference and he never played first line anywhere.

As for sundin mentioned above he was the second best swede to ever play for the leafs. But he was also the softest 6'5" player of his era. Got a lot of easy points when the leafs were often awful.

I know you are only fishing for some attention, calling 99 the 3rd best and saying Andy doesn't belong in the Hall. I'm not biting.

Ask bob stauffer if I'm joking. He and I have had this discussion (along with my claim that the worst draft mistake ever was Mtl picking lafleur (stauffers hero) over Dionne) on several occasions over the years.

It's the commitment to the troll that I applaud. Love it man. Good on ya

We played hard but I can't help but feel like the Ducks weren't on their game tonight. We made plenty of mistakes that they didn't make us pay for. Another night, another loss. At least Bryz gives me some confidence that we might win the odd game.

The bruins hit hard. The Canucks were surprisingly physical. Anaheim made the most of their size - tenderizing the oil for the real heavyweights - LA. How many guys - even after just three of these six games - are icing and taping damage already sustained?

So you would make the offer sheet and if by some chance Subban did sign it, Oilers would have to give up the next 4 1st for him.

So what would you offer Montreal in trade after signing him to this offer sheet???? I'm sure montreal would be happy to take the Oilers Next 4 1sts. You might be able to offer up an Eberle or Yak to recoup one of them but If I would was them I would want the 1sts.

Toronto overpaid the offer sheet value for Kessle to get him. ANyone wanting Subban would have to do the same.

Norris trophy winners are not like Vezina winners. There have been a lot of flash in the pan goalies. Not so for Norris winners. 4 1st Rd picks do not come with a guarantees. Suban most certainly does.

Definitely need to move on from Dubnyk, if we can off load him for a 2nd-3rd pick at some stage that would be great. I'm betting he's a deadline move to a playoff team in need of a backup "upgrade".

Unfortunately this is going to be another season of what we can get for moving our dead weight. Only 2.5 months or so until the deadline, hurray! Hoping for a top 5 pick this draft so we can keep adding to this elite talent we have (sarcasm). Hoping something happens and we turn it around in 2014/15. Go Oilers!

Definitely need to move on from Dubnyk, if we can off load him for a 2nd-3rd pick at some stage that would be great. I'm betting he's a deadline move to a playoff team in need of a backup "upgrade".

Unfortunately this is going to be another season of what we can get for moving our dead weight. Only 2.5 months or so until the deadline, hurray! Hoping for a top 5 pick this draft so we can keep adding to this elite talent we have (sarcasm). Hoping something happens and we turn it around in 2014/15. Go Oilers!

Love to see us go after Scrivens when Quick comes off IR in LA and then turn around and see if we can move Dubnyk for a player or a pick.

Unfortunately, Dubnyk's trade value will be low because he is getting paid too much to be a backup somewhere else. At best, we may be able to pull off a "Horcoff" type of deal-- take a depth player and a late pick in return.

Gagner Hemsky and Marincin for Subban
Petry Eberle Jones for Tavares and pick

Wait for Yakimov Nurse and Chase

(Putting it out there. ..in hopes universe responds)

I'll help pile on.

No way these trades ever come close to fruition. For Subban, the conversation would likely start at Hall + our 1st. Tavares is the new captain on the Isles, I can't see him going for less than Eberle and probably one of Nuge or Yak, most likely Nuge.

Downtrodden eh? Well, how about playing the way you KNOW you can - Minni 6-1, Nuks 7-2, Avs 8-2, Hawks 8-4 as you have before? How about playing the way you outplayed Boston for the last 40 minutes? How about you play as a team instead of 12 individual players? How about playing so your fans don't boo you off the ice? How about playing the way you promised when you were 12 years old if you made the NHL, Finally, how about playing as if the threat of demotion/loss of salary was a direct result of EVERY game. Win please - regularly. Just a thought

I agree, I think Smyth is a mercy signing as a 13/14th forward so he can retire an Oiler when he chooses to retire. Personally I think he'd be capable in that role, and might exceed expectations. Would like to see MacT get him down to $1 million per season though, on a 1 year deal maximum.

Agree with your comments, but how did you come by your handle? I was Oliveoiler until about a month ago when my password ceased to work. Contacted Wanye with no success. I'm still Oliveoiler on Lowetide.ca, however. Now I know how Madjam felt, but at least I agree with my doppelganger!

Agree about the building a steady defense without a #1 but how many teams win a cup without a true #1?

If Bryz does well and is in position to get another nhl contract after this year, are we sure he will resign here?

Just wondering

valid points! i was assuming the Oilers could just start *winning* with a solid, #1-less defense first, and maybe worry about finding one when they start winning....but i do realize that the Kings, Hawks and Bruins all do have true #1 d-men and have won cups, while the Devils went to the finals without one and didn't win.

as far as Bryz goes, i wonder why everyone on every hockey board i go on thinks that if Bryz shows well here, he's a goner? i understand he said some things about Edmonton in the past, but he's here and hasn't complained at all as far as i know? i'm just not as convinced as some that if he plays well, he'll take the first good offer from someone else and run.

valid points! i was assuming the Oilers could just start *winning* with a solid, #1-less defense first, and maybe worry about finding one when they start winning....but i do realize that the Kings, Hawks and Bruins all do have true #1 d-men and have won cups, while the Devils went to the finals without one and didn't win.

as far as Bryz goes, i wonder why everyone on every hockey board i go on thinks that if Bryz shows well here, he's a goner? i understand he said some things about Edmonton in the past, but he's here and hasn't complained at all as far as i know? i'm just not as convinced as some that if he plays well, he'll take the first good offer from someone else and run.

The only thing that makes me weary is that when Bryz was with phoenix and they were rumored to be returning to the peg he stated openly that he would not go he does not want to live in the cold. Temperature wise it is not much different here.

However as one gets older their perspective changes. he said his kids play hockey and figure skate and Edmonton is a very good place for kids who enjoy that.

Gregor you wrote "LaBarbera was the wrong choice in the summer, and the Oilers will need to do a better job next year when they go searching for a back up. They can't sign the wrong guy again." Don't you think a higher priority will be when they go looking for a no.1 goalie?

Does anyone know if the bookies will be giving odds on the ratio of shots on goal tonight? i.e. shot by Ducks:shots by Oil. Over under of about 2 would seem about right.

The only thing that makes me weary is that when Bryz was with phoenix and they were rumored to be returning to the peg he stated openly that he would not go he does not want to live in the cold. Temperature wise it is not much different here.

However as one gets older their perspective changes. he said his kids play hockey and figure skate and Edmonton is a very good place for kids who enjoy that.

BelΔnger also said he would not move to Winnepeg, but ended up in Edmonton at the end of the day.

Still trying to decide if its even going to be worthwhile to turn the TV on tonight. The Vancouver game was just depressing.

Of course you will, same as I will. Masochists we may be, but we are TRUE fans first. Try reverse psychology - I did with the Avs game, rooted for them until we were up by 3, then changed tactics - it worked YAY!!!! Said 50 Hail Marys afterwards tho, as I was on a guilt trip............. need to go to confession - NAH, not till after the season ends.

Glenn Anderson was a myth who is in the Hall of Fame...His teammates said he was the most clutch player they had, but you say he is a myth. Good one.

Smyth has been a very good player. He isn't great, but no one ever said he was. It is ridiculous that you suggest he is a myth or not a leader. The guy led by his actions on the ice. Showed up, played hard, and never took a shift off for ten years.

The need for you to want to tear a guy down late in his career is pointless.

THANK YOU!!!! Grew up watching Anderson play in the 80's Dude was awesome. Who at that time didn't get chills when he broke in on the wing? It was gonna be a goal or a glorious crash or both. He knew how to pay the price.

Smytty has been a fantastic Oiler and i just hate that he has to get painted with the stink that this franchise has become.

Anderson shouldn't be in the HOF - nor should several others (Clarke Gilles comes to mind) a life-long second liner who got to play against other teams second line with mess as his center man. Only a dozen or so more points than theo fluery who played super-tough first line minutes and isn't in the HOF.

As for his teammates pumping his (and by connection, their) tires is hardly surprising and surely you don't take their word for it.

As for Smyth - he was an effective player back in the day - never said he wasn't. But please point to evidence that he was ever a team leader other than by example and while he may have never taken a shift off in his first ten years he certainly has since so what message/leadership does that give his current teammates? And even though he has faded skills wise there remains nil evidence that he has assumed the role of mentor/leader. Thus the commenters claims above are based on myth not fact.

So Arcobello has one bad game, where everyone else had one bad game, and he gets demoted right away. And then you sit your biggest dman for a game against one of the biggest teams. Eakins is a fu$%#ng joke

I beg to differ. Smyth has been unimpressive since re-signing with the oils and really wasn't that great during his Odessey away from the team. He certainly takes nights off; really isn't that chippy; doesn't seem to be much of a mentor or leader.

He is far more myth than reality. But then the same can be said for a lot of players in the oilers past Glenn Anderson being #1 in that regard.

You mean the Glenn Anderson who is the 4th highest scorer all time in NHL playoff history?